Carers UK responds to CQC report on adult social care

“Carers UK is deeply concerned by these findings, which confirm our fears that cuts to core central government funding for local authorities would lead to a marked deterioration in the quality of services afforded to ill, disabled, and older people and their carers.

The downgrading of 26% of adult social care services from “good” to “requiring improvement” will do little to assuage the concerns of unpaid carers, who are increasingly forced to galvanise the sector at the expense of their own wellbeing. Since 2010, the number of carers providing care for 50 or more hours a week has risen by 33%, doubling their risk of developing mental or physical health complications compared to non-carers.

In order to build a workable climate of support for carers, it is vital that local authorities receive sustainable funding settlements. Quality care matters to both carers and their loved ones, and it is heartening to see the CQC rate 95% of adult social care services as “good” or “excellent” when judged on criteria for ‘caring’. Carers frequently tell us how much quality care matters to their health and wellbeing, and it is good to note that inspectors reported efforts by dedicated staff to treat users with “compassion, kindness, dignity, and respect”. However, without a Government commitment to match service providers’ efforts with tangible capital, we will continue to see a rise in problem areas related to funding, such as under-staffing.

We urge the Government to introduce a new, sustainably funded settlement for social care, to marry up carers’ legal right to support with the real-terms provisions granted.”